NHRA Qualifying Washed Out At zMAX

Rain put a damper on qualifying in Concord on Friday. (RacinToday/HHP photo by Harold Hinson)

By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com

CONCORD, N.C. – Rain washed out Friday afternoon qualifying in the Dollar General NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway shortly after Pro Stock began its first round and Pro Stock Motorcycle had completed its inaugural session.

Qualifying for the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series resumes Saturday at 12:15 p.m. as scheduled. Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle are first on the agenda with Top Fuel and Funny Car set to begin at 1 p.m. The final qualifying round for those four categories is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The field for Sunday will be set after Saturday’s two qualifying sessions. The time will stand for those who made qualifying runs on Friday before the rain began.

When rain halted Pro Stock’s first qualifying round, Shane Gray, from Denver, N.C., was leading with a 6.601 ET in a Chevrolet Camaro. Larry Morgan’s Ford Mustang was second among the 10 cars that ran with a 6.644 ET. Gray also had posted the top speed at 210.67 mph.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Hamden, Conn., native John Hall, riding a 2010 Buell XB12R, owned low ET at 6.930 seconds. Second was Scotty Pollacheck, of Medford, Ore., also on a 2010 Buell XB12R. Top speed honors went to Shawn Gann, from Stoneville, N.C. His 2009 Buell XB9R was clocked at 193.93 mph; however, he had an ET of 6.943 seconds, which was third quickest.

This year is the first time the motorcycles have participated in the track’s spring, four-wide event since 2010. That year Matt Smith emerged the winner. On Friday, Smith recorded the fourth quickest ET – 6.961 seconds — on a 2010 Buell XB9R.

Racin’ Today – Quote from John Force

“I’m excited to see writers like Jim Pedley, John Sturbin, Rick Minter, and Bill Fleischman, guys who have written about me, working together at www.racintoday.com. The internet is huge and it is giving talented guys like these professionals a place to get their stories out to our fans and the public. The media is changing and I am excited to see writers that have covered me and all of motorsports creating a new way to get our stories to our fans. They can take motorsports journalism to the next level. I’ve dealt with these guys for over 15 years all across the country.”

“As an example of the character of these guys, when Sturbin was with the Ft. Worth Star Telegram and I was racing at the Texas Motorplex, one of my favorite tracks he showed how he is an individual who gets it. He understands the sport and the drivers. Years ago I ran my mouth at the Texas Motorplex saying I was going to go out and set a record and if I didn’t I would eat his newspaper column. Well I didn’t set the record so I went into the press room and ate his column the next day. He told before I started that I didn’t have to follow through but I told him if I say something I am going to back it up whether I win or lose. That is the kind of pro Sturbin is as well as the rest of the writers at racintoday.com are. They will write the truth whether you like it or not.”

“You better not blame something on your car because Sturbin will dig and find out whether or not it was the car or you. He gets down in the trenches, tells the truth, and he knows what he is talking about. I am excited for these writers and this new website because I have always loved the media and I know that without the media you don’t have much. You have to be able to tell your story and get it right. These guys are guys who will make sure they get it right.” - JOHN FORCE